Whether you like to grill a lot of meats or have kids home for the summer, grocery costs can go sky high during the summer. Check out these 5 ways to save on groceries this summer to help keep your budget in check. #VisaClearPrepaid #BudgetIn30

This post with 5 ways to save on groceries this summer is part of a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Prepaid Visa® RushCard and Visa Clear Prepaid because we all need a bit of help saving money sometimes, right?

I love trying and cooking a variety of foods, so keeping our grocery budget in check has always been a struggle. Summer can be an exceptionally tough time to save on groceries if you have kids at home eating more and that go with you to the store and want several snacks. We also love to grill, so half of our grocery budget can easily go to a variety of meats. If you also struggle with the grocery budget, see our tips for 5 ways to save on groceries this summer.

1. Buy items that haven’t been pre-prepared.Sure, it’s a nice time saver to buy food that’s already been prepared whether it’s a chicken that’s been cut into pieces and kabobs ready to go on the grill or pre-made mashed potatoes that just need to be heated. But, you’re paying for that convenience. The more work you have to do at home, the less you’ll pay at the store. While it’s nice to put food straight onto the grill or right on the table, you can expect to pay at least double, if not triple or even quadruple, the price than if you do the prep at home.

2. Buy what’s currently fresh and in season. Buying in season is likely something you’ve heard before to save money on groceries, and it’s true. However, I think we all need reminding now and then because thanks to today’s tech and fast shipping, just about all foods are available year round. Luckily, summer is a great time to eat local and fresh on the cheap as all sorts of produce like berries, vegetables and other fruits are available.

3. Try to stick to what’s on sale. We’ve all seen the craziness of how much money some can save on coupons and scouring all sorts of sales. But, that can be time consuming. Take the time to survey how much money your family needs to save on groceries a month and how much time you can dedicate to saving that money. Most sales rotate every month or 2, so stock up a bit while items are on sale, and look for coupons when possible. You can even find match-ups that pair sales with coupons on a variety of sites to make the job that much easier. I try to stick to only buying items we don’t really need like pre-made boxed snacks, desserts, soda and the like only when they are on sale because they are just too expensive of a treat to buy regularly.

4. Make a menu plan and shop more frequently. How often do you throw away food you never even cooked or leftovers that get pushed to the back of the fridge? Most families throw away literally hundreds of dollars worth of food a year and I am super guilty of that. Mr. Savvy, who was born and grew up in Germany, has commented before how much smaller refrigerators are in Europe because they go to the market just about daily for fresh groceries. While it may not be practical to go to the store daily, creating a menu plan that you stick to and only buying what you need for your menu plan can help you throw a lot less money away.

5. Make a budget and stick to it. Making a budget that you stick to is one of the best ways to ensure that you only spend so much money on groceries. It can be easy to say that you’re only going to spend so much, but if you have access to that money freely, it’s easy to go over. That’s why I like to literally limit myself to so much grocery money, and if we run out, we’ll be eating from the pantry and freezer until payday. Some like to use a cash envelope system, but that’s too much to keep up with for me, so I like loading money onto a prepaid card.

spend so much money on groceries. It can be easy to say that you’re only going to spend so much, but if you have access to that money freely, it’s easy to go over. That’s why I like to literally limit myself to so much grocery money, and if we run out, we’ll be eating from the pantry and freezer until payday. Some like to use a cash envelope system, but that’s too much to keep up with for me, so I like loading money onto a prepaid card.

I personally use the Prepaid Visa® RushCard, part of the Visa Clear Prepaid program, which I love because all fees are clearly communicated, and you’re protected by Visa’s Zero Liability* fraud protection if your card is lost or stolen, too. You can even load money onto the card at places you probably already grocery shop, like Walmart, CVS and Dollar General. You can also set up direct deposits to the card, or load checks, which is great if you are like me and get multiple small checks a month from various small jobs. It’s so easy to use and stress-free because you don’t have to worry about overdrafts. I’ll certainly take having one less thing to worry about.

If I have money left over at the end of the month, I’ll use it to buy a couple indulgences like a frozen coffee or my favorite ice cream. Or, if it’s close to the holidays, I’ll leave the money on there so I can really stock up for a special meal for the family.

*Visa’s Zero Liability Policy covers U.S.-issued cards and does not apply to certain commercial card transactions, or any transactions not processed by Visa. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please consult your issuer.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Visa Clear Prepaid and Prepaid Visa® RushCard.

About Smart Savvy Living

Michelle is the founder and blogger behind Smart Savvy Living. She lives in Hampton Roads, Virginia where she enjoys creating recipes, learning how to do things smarter, photography, tech, gardening, and herding cats. She can be reached at [email protected]